Growing in grace

(The following are edited notes from the message preached by Michael Larsen on May 5, 2019.)

Text: Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

1. PUT OFF THE OLD

You don't grow by doing good. 

You don't grow by keeping rules. 

You don't grow by feeling bad. 

2. PUT ON THE NEW

We don't have to achieve our new life. 

We don't have to keep our new life. 

I do have to put on this new life. 

3. BE RENEWED IN YOUR MIND

This step of God, renewing our mind, empowers us to take off the old and put on the new. Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

It happens by grace. It starts by grace and ends by grace.     Galatians 3:3 says “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”  It's grace all the way through. A renewed mind is not just determination. It's determined dependence on God. 

There are two unforgettable promises from the book of Philippians about how we can trust God to grow us once we come to Him as Christians. Philippians 1:6 says “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”